Easily removable contacts for micro connectors

Abstract

A plug including a base having a top surface, a plurality of openings in the top surface, a retraction unit having a first portion in the base and a second portion extending from the base to a position in front of a corresponding opening, and a conductive unit having a notch where the conductive unit extends through one opening such that the retraction unit engages the notch to prevent the conductive unit from passing back through the opening.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A plug including:
 a base having a lower surface; 
 a plurality of openings in a center of the lower surface, wherein each of the plurality of openings is separate and distinct from each of the other plurality of openings; 
 a retraction unit having a first portion in the base and a second portion extending from the first portion to a position in front of a corresponding opening; and 
 a conductive unit having a first notch, 
 wherein the conductive unit extends through one opening such that the retraction unit engages the first notch to prevent the conductive unit from passing back through the opening, 
 wherein the second portion of the retraction unit comprises a second notch, wherein the second portion is bent about the second notch such that the second portion is angled towards the center of the lower surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The plug of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the retraction unit comprises a plurality of second portions, wherein the first portion of the retraction unit is sized such that each of the plurality of second portions corresponds to respective plurality of openings in the lower surface of the base. 
     
     
       3. The plug of  claim 1 , wherein a front surface of the second portion of the retraction unit engages the first notch on a corresponding conductive unit. 
     
     
       4. The plug of  claim 1 , including a case that is configured to receive the plug. 
     
     
       5. The plug of  claim 1  wherein each opening is configured to accept a removal portion of a removal unit. 
     
     
       6. The plug of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive unit is made of a conductive material. 
     
     
       7. The plug of  claim 6 , wherein the retention unit bends about the second notch if a upward force is applied. 
     
     
       8. The plug of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive unit is a first conductive unit, and the plug further comprises a second conductive unit, wherein the second conductive unit extends through one of the plurality of openings that is different from the one of the plurality openings that the first conductive unit extends through, wherein each of the first and second conductive units are removable from their respective openings independently of the other of the first and second conductive units. 
     
     
       9. A retention unit including:
 a base portion; 
 a plurality of openings in the center of the base portion, wherein each of the plurality of openings is separate and distinct from each of the other plurality of openings; and 
 a plurality of protrusions extending from the periphery of the opening in the base unit, wherein each protrusion comprises a notch, wherein each protrusion is bent about the notch such that protrusion is bent towards the center of the opening at the notch. 
 
     
     
       10. The retention unit of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of openings are sized to accommodate a plug. 
     
     
       11. The retention unit of  claim 10 , wherein the base portion is configured such that each retention unit is position adjacent to a corresponding opening in the plug. 
     
     
       12. The retention unit of  claim 10 , wherein a rear surface of the base portion engages the plug. 
     
     
       13. The retention unit of  claim 9 , wherein each protrusion includes a front surface that is configured to engage a latching portion on a conductive unit. 
     
     
       14. The retention unit of  claim 9 , wherein the base portion is configured to engage an opening in a case. 
     
     
       15. The retention unit of  claim 9 , wherein each protrusion extends from a bottom surface of a corresponding opening.